Author Topic: RCA 81 Carving Updated With More Photos FINISHED (Read 6696 times)

smart dog · « **on:** October 21, 2019, 01:48:22 AM »

Hi Folks,
I am building a Chambers Isaac Haines kit for a customer. I don't like kits but he wanted me to carve and engrave the gun as close to RCA 81 as best I can. The kit was profiled for a wooden patch box but I added a brass copy of RCA 81. Although I don't like kits, the challenge of trying to recreate Haines' carving on that rifle is intimidating. I rarely back away from a challenge so here are some of my efforts. I'll post more as I go.

dave

Daryl · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2019, 01:50:36 AM »

Looking purty sweet, Dave.

B.Barker · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2019, 03:26:47 AM »

Really nice carving on the rifle. Haines did some really fine carving on the rifles he made.

Dan Fruth · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2019, 05:47:39 AM »

Your work never ceases to amaze me...Great job!

Mike Lyons · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2019, 07:10:40 AM »

You have it whooped. It turned out beautiful.

alacran · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2019, 01:51:46 PM »

I tried that a few years back I got lost drawing it quite a few times. Went through a lot of erasers. I think yours will turn out better than mine.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2019, 02:55:03 PM »

Looks fine to me.

smart dog · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2019, 03:21:21 PM »

Hi Guys,
Thanks for looking and commenting. Alacran, that is nice carving and you captured Haines' style very well. My only sources are the photos in RCA Vol 1. I have color photos of some of Haines' other rifles showing almost the same designs but it is clear that he took #81 to a higher standard. I am using my KRF CDs and zooming in on the Haines rifle included on one of the CDs (RCA#78) to understand how he carved his designs but there are quite a few details on #81 that do not match. One problem with the photos is the white stuff that obscures some of the edges of the carving and details. It is almost like some sort of wax build up. I made scaled tracings of the original carving and transferred them to the stock but those were just the outlines of the edges of the carving. Carving the details from those photos is challenging.

dave

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2019, 04:28:30 PM »

Dave, what I have seen of your work makes me think that you will excel in your task. You are extremely talented, and I for one really appreciate your work. Keep us posted - looking great already!

Marcruger · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2019, 06:25:26 PM »

That is some nice looking carving. I was pondering the grain and the carving pattern. I don’t think that one was easy. God bless, Marc

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2019, 06:47:22 PM »

Dave: I really like what you've accomplished in your box and carving. I built that rifle (several times actually) back in the 80's, when I was first experimenting with carving and driving a chisel through brass. Here's one of my first efforts...incidentally, this rifle, a .54 cal. is still shooting well. Our small group shot our trail yesterday, and this rifle is still a contender.

J. Talbert · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2019, 04:15:14 AM »

Looking fine.
I have no doubt the rest will be just as good.

Jeff

alacran · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2019, 01:50:53 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on October 21, 2019, 02:55:03 PM

Looks fine to me.

I think his carving on the bottom has a longer curve and looks less truncated than mine. Then I'm never totally pleased with my carvings.
Usually just happy to get them done.

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2019, 06:50:40 PM »

I think that looks nice. Just one suggestion... On the large lower right hand scroll there is a smaller leaf / scroll feature which wraps over the backside of the big scroll. I think it would look better if this diverged a little more gently. My eye keeps stopping at this point. Great work!

Jim

smart dog · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2019, 03:46:40 AM »

Hi,
Thank you all for looking and commenting. Jim Kibler, thank you for your input. I believe I understand your point and can work on that detail. I mostly finished the cheek side wrist carving. It came out well but still needs a little clean up and a few more details. I won't finish defining the checkering until I've put the first coat of finish on the rifle. I am concerned the diamonds will chip and want the wood hardened by the finish before finishing. I'll come back and clean up the details after getting other areas carved.

dave

smart dog · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2019, 06:49:40 PM »

Hi Folks,
finished the carving and stock on this Chambers Isaac Haines kit. The owner wanted the carving to be a close to RCA 81 as I could. I did the best I could given the limits of the photos. Anyway, here are some views of the carving after stain and the first sealing coat of tung oil.

dave

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2019, 06:53:54 PM »

Dave, that is absolutely splendid! Really like the way the curl and the carving give an impression of great depth, and fluid movement.
You provide a great example for those of us still learning to carve.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2019, 07:27:53 PM »

That's coming along great. There is always a tremendous difference in carving before and after staining, looks completely different. I always like the looks of mine before the stain, the stain makes all my mistakes stand out!

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2019, 09:24:35 PM »

Looks great! Nice work.

Jim

smart dog · « **Reply #19 on:** November 16, 2019, 02:17:09 AM »

Hi Guys,
Well I finished the carving and patch box engraving. I tried to closely copy Haines' style. Here it is.

dave

john bohan · « **Reply #20 on:** November 16, 2019, 02:36:09 AM »

Haines guns are my favorites, I wished mine looked like these photos.

kentuckyrifleman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2019, 07:24:11 AM »

Impressive!

bama · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2019, 03:17:27 PM »

Top notch work that you should be proud of. Thanks for sharing your work and the progress photos. It is always interesting to see how other builder's go about their work, I always pick up a pointer or two. Again great carving and rifle.

t.caster · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2019, 05:30:24 PM »

I think you really nailed it! Carving is crisp, clean and flowing smoothly. I don't think any will recognize it as a "kit gun" now!
Great work!

heinz · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2019, 05:41:21 PM »

Well done!

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Author Topic: RCA 81 Carving Updated With More Photos FINISHED (Read 6696 times)